A woman’s tale of the transformative power of walking Britain’s ancient pilgrim paths. ‘Phoebe Smith is a splendid writer and an inspiring traveller’ Bill Bryson Faced with turning 35 – and seeing friends settle down, get married, have kids – Phoebe Smith found herself ending a long�term relationship, considering giving up her dream job and asking herself what actually is the point of… everything? On an assignment to walk the most famous pilgrimage in the world – the Camino de Santiago, in northern Spain – Phoebe experiences a moment of self-discovery shared by many who travel these ancient trails. And so, having spent a lifetime in solo exploration of unfamiliar places, she suddenly resolved to return to her native Britain and follow in the footsteps of generations of saints (and sinners) in the hope of ‘finding herself’ once more and confronting the things that scared her the most. But what is a pilgrimage? Why are so many people undertaking them now? How do you become a pilgrim? And how do you know what you are seeking? These are the questions Phoebe grapples with as she undertakes a series of journeys – some familiar and some little-known – the length and breadth of the British Isles. Along the way she contemplates love and loss in her life, the role of contemplation and silence in pilgrimage, and the sudden camaraderie shared endeavour brings. Until, high on a windswept cliff, she arrives at an epiphany: the ending of one trail is always the start of another.

The popular Dales Way long-distance footpath begins in Ilkley, West Yorkshire and runs for 84 miles (135km) to end in the Lake District, in Bowness-on-Windermere. It follows riverside paths along the River Wharf towards Ribblehead and the watershed of northern England, then meanders along the river valleys of Dentdale, the River Mint and the River Kent dropping down into the Lake District to end beside Lake Windermere. It's a relatively easy walk that takes about a week. Includes 38 large-scale maps (3 1/8 inches to 1 mile); 9 town plans and 8 overview maps. Full details of all accommodations and campsites, restaurants and pubs; plus full public transport information. Plus day-walks.- 38 large-scale walking maps - at just under 1:20,000 - showing route times, places to stay, points of interest and much more - 9 town plans - 8 area maps and trail profiles - Itineraries for all walkers - whether walking the route in its entirety over a week or sampling the highlights on day walks and short breaks - Practical information for all budgets - camping, bunkhouses, hostels, B&Bs, pubs and hotels; Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere - where to stay, where to eat, what to see, plus detailed street plans - Comprehensive public transport information - for all access points on the Dales Way. - Flora and fauna - four page full color flower guide, plus an illustrated section on local wildlife - Green hiking - understanding the local environment and minimizing our impact on it - Includes downloadable gps waypoints

England's most popular walk runs for 184 miles (296 km) across the north of England from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea. It passes through three National Parks - the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors - with fine scenery, welcoming pubs and plenty of accommodation. Devised by the legendary Wainwright, the Coast to Coast attracts walkers worldwide. The new edition is richly illustrated with 150 photographs, many by professional landscape photographer Karen Frenkel. There are 25 pages of colourful new mapping (scale 1:55,000) with cumulative distances, a 25-metre contour interval and points of interest marked. Each section has its own altitude profile, with details of where refreshments are available. Much detail has been added to route descriptions, in many places clarified by extra photographs with custom overlays to clarify route detail. Major route options have been added and mapped, and many updates made. The format is lightweight, robust and rainproof.

There are few more beautiful places than Scotland's winter mountains. But even when most of the snow has melted, isolated patches can linger well into summer and beyond. In The Vanishing Ice, Iain Cameron chronicles these remarkable and little-seen relics of the Ice Age, describing how they have fascinated travellers and writers for hundreds of years, and reflecting on the impact of climate change. Iain was nine years old when snow patches first captured his imagination, and they have been inextricably bound with his life ever since. He developed his expertise through correspondence (and close friendship) with research ecologist Dr Adam Watson, and is today Britain's foremost authority on this weather phenomenon. Iain takes us on a tour of Britain which includes the Scottish Highlands, the Southern Uplands, the Lake District and Snowdonia, seeking elusive patches of snow in wild and often inaccessible locations. His adventures include a perilous climb in the Cairngorms with comedian Ed Byrne, and glorious days spent out on the hills with Andrew Cotter and his very good dogs, Olive and Mabel. Based on sound scientific evidence and personal observations, accompanied by stunning photography and wrapped in Iain's shining passion for the British landscape, The Vanishing Ice is a eulogy to snow, the mountains and the great outdoors.

Over two decades of turmoil and change in the Middle East, steered via the history-soaked landscape of Palestine. This new edition includes a previously unpublished epigraph in the form of a walk. When Raja Shehadeh first started hill walking in Palestine, in the late 1970s, he was not aware that he was travelling through a vanishing landscape. These hills would have seemed familiar to Christ, until the day concrete was poured over the flora and irreversible changes were brought about by those who claim a superior love of the land. Six walks span a period of twenty-six years, in the hills around Ramallah, in the Jerusalem wilderness and through the ravines by the Dead Sea. Each walk takes place at a different stage of Palestinian history since 1982, the first in the empty pristine hills and the last amongst the settlements and the wall. The reader senses the changing political atmosphere as well as the physical transformation of the landscape. By recording how the land felt and looked before these calamities, Raja Shehadeh attempts to preserve, at least in words, the Palestinian natural treasures that many Palestinians will never know.

From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, this guide to awakening your senses and engaging deeply with the forest is the perfect gift for hikers and walkers. "This book will fast-track you into the joys of spending time amongst the trees."--Tristan Gooley, author of The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs and How to Read Water You'll be changed after reading this fine and enchanting book."--Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no--but when we do, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to engage with the forest by decoding nature's signs and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you. What can you learn by following the spread of a root, by tasting the tip of a branch, by searching out that bitter almond smell? What creatures can be found in a stream if you turn over a rock--and what is the best way to cross a forest stream, anyway? How can you understand a forest's history by the feel of the path underfoot, the scars on the trees along the trail, or the play of sunlight through the branches? How can we safely explore the forest at night? What activities can we use to engage children with the forest? Throughout Forest Walking, the authors share experiences and observations from visiting forests across North America: from the rainforests and redwoods of the west coast to the towering white pines of the east, and down to the cypress swamps of the south and up to the boreal forests of the north. With Forest Walking, German forester Peter Wohlleben teams up with his longtime editor, Jane Billinghurst, as the two write their first book together, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Together, they will teach you how to listen to what the forest is saying, no matter where you live or which trees you plan to visit next.

With some of the most picturesque countryside in England, yet only a short hop from London, the Chiltern Hills are just waiting to be explored. The glorious views from high ridges, ancient woodlands brimming with wildlife and downs alive with wild flowers and butterflies make the Chilterns and the communities within them English to the core. The vast network of well-established paths provides a wonderful walking country with history and nature keeping you company at every step. If you are planning to get away from it all in the Chilterns, this collection of 40 moderate walks is your perfect guide.

This guidebook details 100 walking routes around Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, centred in 10 areas including Fort William and Glen Nevis, the Aonachs, the Mamores, Kinlochleven, Glen Coe, Glen Etive, Black Mount and Ben Cruachan. Routes are graded according to difficulty, and range between short, easy strolls and long, challenging walks with overnight bothy stays. The region's 44 Munro summits are covered, including 2 easy scrambles and the formidable traverse of Aonach Eagach's iconic jagged ridge. Alongside step-by-step route descriptions and mapping, the guide presents practical advice on transport, access, safety and where to stay plus background information on the area's fascinating geology. Many of the routes reflect the author's belief that the best rewards often lie off the popular tourist trails. Yet the highlights are all there: Buachaille Etive Mor, Aonach Eagach, the Mamores, the Grey Corries, Bidean nam Bian, Ben Starav, Carn Mor Dearg and of course, the mighty Ben Nevis. The book - like Glen Coe itself - encourages exploration and includes a helpful 'summit summary' to show different options and assist with route-planning.

This guidebook - which includes both a guide to the route and a separate OS map booklet - describes Offa's Dyke Path National Trail from south to north, following the longest linear earthwork in Britain, running 177 miles along the English-Welsh border between Sedbury (near Chepstow) and Prestatyn on the north Wales Coast. The book splits one of Britain's classic trails into 12 stages suitable for walkers of all abilities. Step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100,000 OS map extracts. Also included with this guidebook is a booklet of 1:25,000 OS maps, which provides all the mapping needed to complete the trail in a compact form. A trek planner gives at a glance information about facilities, public transport and accommodation available along the route. The walk is astonishingly varied, taking in the lower Wye gorge, the Severn and the Dee rift valley, the pastures and woodlands of the border country, the remote moorland of the Black Mountains and the Clwydian range, and the dramatic limestone escarpments of Eglwyseg mountain. What makes it even more special is over 60 miles walking alongside the Saxon earthwork of Offa's Dyke.

This guidebook describes 50 circular walks and scrambles exploring the Costa Blanca mountains, around the resorts of Alicante, Benidorm and Calp. These routes range from gentle strolls to demanding days with steep climbs, and from 3-20km in distance. The Mediterranean coast is one of Europe's most popular winter sun adventure destinations. In general UK visitors are best suited to the heat from late autumn to early spring. Beyond the beaches and high rises lies a completely different world of accessible, rocky mountains and knife-edge ridges that stretch away in long chains of gleaming white limestone pinnacles, and the range of walks ensures that everyone can enjoy this spectacular Spanish landscape. Walking on Costa Blanca also includes background information on local geology, wildlife and history, and planning details on where to go, where to stay and what to take.

Immerse yourself in the Lake District's wonderful landscape with this unique collection of walks. In this boxed collection of walking cards you'll find a happy mix of routes around the Lake District. From child-friendly lake side strolls to strenuous rocky climbs , these 35 walking cards are filled with unique half-day routes, as well as one and two-day walks. Each card has a different route fully described and illustrated on a large scale, 1:25 000 map and include our highly recommended, nearby charming places to stay. * Inspirational walks on handy, pocket size cards * Year-round walks specially designed for all seasons * Box includes transparent sleeve so if it rains you can pop the walking card into the sleeve to protect it from the elements * Recommended charming places to stay are included with each walking route so you can combine a great walk with a truly memorable overnight stop * A selection of easy half-day walks as well as some more challenging two-day routes * Ideal for visitors and adventurous locals Pocket a card, leave the box on your bookshelf and enjoy a glorious day out on foot in the Lake District.

This guidebook describes 28 day walks and a five-day trek around Lakes Como and Maggiore in Northern Italy. The day routes range from 3 to 20km in length are graded 1 to 3. The mini trek up the eastern shore of Lago di Como from Lecco to Colicocan can also be cut into one-day stages if desired. There is something for everyone, from easy leisurely strolls for first-time walkers to strenuous climbs up panoramic peaks. The clear maps, inspirational photographs and information about accommodation and public transport options help to make this guidebook an ideal companion to exploring the exceptional scenery, views and culture of the Italian Lakes. A basic English-Italian glossary is also included. Picturesque Lago Maggiore has been working its magic on writers and visitors for centuries. Blessed with a mild climate and delightful position close to the Alps, it attracts flocks of admirers to its shores and islands adorned with sumptuous villas and gorgeous ornamental gardens, a legacy of the late Renaissance. Ever magnificent, the splendours of Lago di Como were broadcast by the likes of Pliny and Strabone back in ancient Roman times. Overseas visitors are attracted by the breathtaking scenery and romantic atmosphere, augmented by the host of villas and superb gardens, where pretty camellias and rhododendrons spill over terraces.

This is the definitive guide to the best long distance trails in Britain, leading you through landscapes rich in history, wildlife and views. OS references are provided throughout, with invaluable tips on where to walk, timings, nutrition and equipment. There are walks for every level of fitness and contributions from experienced walkers, with practical advice and accompanying maps and explanatory illustrations. Whether walking along the coast or across the moors, following ancient pathways or seeking out less well-known routes, Long Distance Walking in Britain is the ideal companion.

The fruit of a quarter of a century of walking, reading and thinking about the unique mountain playground of the Lake District, this book provides surprises for even the most ardent lover of the Lakes. Familiar with it in all weathers and all seasons, the author Steve Goodier describes his passion for fell-walking, explores little-known routes that will tempt and surprise even those who think they know the fells well, and uncovers some Lakeland oddities. He also reflects on favourite but generally disregarded mountains and finally discusses some of the writers who have shared his love of the Lakes, from the famous including Coleridge (the first recorded fellwalker), Wordsworth and Wainwright to the less well-known H.H. Symonds, W.T. Palmer and novelist Graham Sutton. By revealing and sharing the pleasure that the mountains have given the author and countless others over the years, this book takes its place amongst those that are essential reading for any lover of the lakes.

Comprehensive, illustrated guidebook to the magical land of Ladakh in the far north of India, beyond the Himalayas. Up to date information on hotels and transport and practical advice on planning and budgeting your trip. Detailed explanatory descriptions of the regions' famous Buddhist monasteries and other sights besides the stupendous road journeys to Ladakh from Manali and Kashmir, with entire sections on these two regions. There are extensive sections on Zanskar, Nubra, and the Pangong-Tsomoriri lakes, besides a chapter on the treks in Ladakh. Also included is a detailed introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and a section on the people and history of Ladakh. Apart from a foldout map of the Ladakh-Kashmir region at the back, there are some 25 other maps in the books, and about 270 colour photographs.

Revised and updated 4th edition of Walk! La Palma including the latest Tour & Trail Mapping. Walk! La Palma includes 37 fully detailed walking route itineraries. Each walking route itinerary includes:- - walking route summary - ratings for Effort, Time, Distance, Ascents/Descents, Refreshments and Vertigo risk - fully detailed walk description, including frequent timings to aid navigation and check your progress - GPS Waypoints at every key point on every route where there is good gps reception - full colour 1:40,000 scale map of the route - short walk and stroll alternatives There are some easy routes. There are some challenging routes for fit experts. With author/researchers Charles Davis' and Jan Kostura's excellent walk descriptions you'll know which routes are for you - and all of them are a true adventure. The steepest island in the world, the deepest crater, the clearest skies: volcanoes you can climb without being shot into orbit; a subtropical forest minus the slimy things slinking up your trouser leg; black beaches, blue seas, high mountains, vegetation that is literally flamboyant, everything linked by 1080 kilometres of waymarked paths; and all virtually untouched by tourism. If this sounds divine or like some lost paradise, you're not the first to think so, previous commentators have identified La Palma as the prototype for both the Elysian Fields and Atlantis! The fanciful stuff aside, the island is a walker's idyll, utterly tranquil, verdant and almost unspoiled. GPS Waypoint files (in gpx file format) for Walk! La Palma are available as a free zip file download on Discovery Walking Guides website. Synopsis 37 detailed walking route itineraries. Each route includes:- walking route summary; ratings for Effort, Time, Distance, Ascents/Descents, Refreshments and Vertigo risk; and more. It also provides background information along with details of accommodation, buses, official walking routes, mountain biking, museums, and information offices.